Slumping Kendrick gets a day off

Mark Saxon covers the St. Louis Cardinals for ESPN.com. He served as the Dodgers team reporter for ESPNLosAngeles.com. through the 2015 season. He spent six years at the Orange County Register, and began his career at the Oakland Tribune, where he started an 11-year journey covering Major League Baseball. He has also covered colleges, including USC football and UCLA basketball.

ANAHEIM -- In the midst of one of his worst hitting slumps since 2009, the year the Angels demoted him to Triple-A for 20 games, Howie Kendrick got a day off to decompress Tuesday night.

"I think he's caught in between a little bit," Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. "At times he's out in front, at times he's missing some fastballs he should hit. Howie's just a terrific hitter in the box, and right now he's searching for some things, and we need him."

One of the things he's searching for is an extra-base hit. He hasn't had one since May 9. Since then, he has batted .188 with 20 strikeouts in 85 at-bats. The Angels have a handful of slumping hitters, including Torii Hunter, but in some ways, Kendrick's long dry spell is the most surprising.

He appeared poised for great things when the season began and he was slotted to hit in front of three-time National League MVP Albert Pujols.

"I think Howie can take a day and maybe just exhale a little bit," Scioscia said.